Situated on the east coast of Anglesey, to the north of the village of Moelfre, the
beach measures just over 1 kilometre at its widest point. It is a relatively sheltered
sandy beach, surrounded by limestone rocks and agricultural land. Traeth Lligwy is
located in the Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with sections of the beach
designated as the Lligwy Special Site of Scientific Interest. The water quality sample
point is located at the centre of the bay.
Natural Resources Wales works to establish sources of pollution around Traeth Lligwy.
Some of this work is carried out in partnership with Anglesey County Council and Dŵr
Cymru Welsh Water. Inspections are carried out by Natural Resources Wales in partnership
with the local authority and the water company. These are carried out pre-season (before
the 1st of May) and mid season if required (during the bathing water season).
Bacterial surveys of the streams draining to the beach have historically been carried
out, and followed up with pollution prevention visits to the caravan sites in the
area to check on their septic tanks.
There are no known misconnections in the catchment.
Modern sewerage systems have two separate systems, one takes foul sewage to sewage
treatment, the other takes rainwater runoff through surface water drains to rivers,
lakes and the sea. Misconnections occur when waste water pipes are plumbed into surface
water drains instead of the foul water sewerage system. This can give rise to pollution
when the waste water is discharged directly to the environment through the surface
water drain. For example, a washing machine or toilet may be incorrectly plumbed so
that it discharges to the surface drain rather than the foul sewage drain.
Phytoplankton (microscopic algae) naturally increase in number at certain times of
the year. This process is known as a phytoplankton bloom.
Algal Blooms can occur at any beach during the bathing season and are usually noticeable
by a surface scum. This beach has no history of such blooms.
Streams are typically affected by sewage or industrial run off from further up the
catchment. The River Lligwy and the Nant Perfedd drain down through the catchment,
directly onto the beach, discharging in the middle of the designated bathing area.
There may be reduced water quality in the adjacent area, where the stream enters the
beach and the sea.
The catchment of the Traeth Lligwy bathing water, is largely agricultural with significant
areas of land occupied by livestock. There are currently no known issues with the
farms in this catchment that could adversely affect the current bathing water quality.
There are a number of caravan sites in the area. The majority have been identified
as having private sewage disposal systems. The camp site nearest to the beach discharges
to ground. Consequently, it is not perceived as presenting a risk to surface water
by draining onto the beach. If any concerns arise, Natural Resources Wales will investigate
and request immediate remedial action from those responsible. At present, there are
no private domestic owners in the area with the potential to impact bathing water
quality at Traeth Lligwy.
Poorly maintained private sewage treatment facilities could be a source of pollution,
therefore the registration of all private sewage systems in Wales is required by 30
June 2012. The primary aim of this exercise is to provide increased protection for
the environment and sensitive features such as bathing water beaches. Where properties
are identified in the catchment that are not on mains sewerage, Natural Resources
Wales will endeavour to ensure registration has been made.
The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is primarily
rural. Agricultural land use, mainly pasture, predominates, with a number of caravan
sites and isolated dwellings scattered throughout the upper catchment.
Seaweed (macroalgae) and phytoplankton (microscopic algae) are a natural part of the
marine and freshwater environment. Below we note whether these have been recorded
in quantities sufficient to be a nuisance.
The majority of sewers in England and Wales are “combined sewers” and carry both sewage
and surface water from roofs and drains. A storm overflow operates during heavy rainfall
when the sewerage system becomes overwhelmed by the amount of surface water. The overflow
prevents sewage from backing up pipes and flooding properties and gardens. An emergency
overflow will only operate infrequently, for example due to pump failure or blockage
in the sewerage system.
Heavy rain falling on pavements and roads often flows into surface water drains or
highway drains, ending up in local rivers and, ultimately, the sea. The quality of
bathing water may be adversely affected as a result of such events.
It is the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales role to drive improvement
of water quality at bathing waters that are at risk of failing European standards.
It is natural for water to run off the land to the sea. Water quality at a bathing
water is dependent upon the type and area of land (the catchment) draining to the
water and the activities undertaken in that catchment.